Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1887-04-21
BURNING or THE sEurSlRr.
Some Additional Fseta Coneernfns the Destrue-
tion Of the Magnificent Structure.


when the alarm ofsnre was given which was
done By one OF the girls, u was thought on
examination By some, that IL could be easily
extinguished. water, OF which at the time
there was but little, the water wagon having
gone 10 the spring ,:was applied At drst but u
was soon discyered that the post on the inside
OF which the hre was must be removed. II
was knocked from its place but not before the
Ore had resched TO the.rooi and frame WORK Of
the porch. The next thing was 10 remove
the porch as quick ~ possible. To do this an
other column had 10 be chopped away. when
this was done the portIco parted from the
main building only 10 fall In such = position
a. TO close the entrance door from the portico
into the hall, and TO give vent at the upper end
as the rooflay for the blaze 70 reach the win
dows OF the second noor, the wood work Of
which soon became lgnited and served as q
transit for the Ere into the rooms. The fallen
porch barricaded the door below, and from its
burning timbers the flames entered the hall
and climbed toward the second floor. The
girls made desperate effort 70 their home.
IL is said that "they worked like men," and
their powers Of endurance, withdrawing the
heat and fatigue OF carrying water, was truly
beyond expectation. Some were distracted
with fear and excl tement, while others were
cool and courageous as old veterans, and work
ed, a. said. like men. Mr.. McKirrAhan, the
music teacher and two other mon were the on =
ly intelligent male help in the endeavor to ex-
tinguish the flames. and not until the cornice
began TO smoke and blaze did they cease their
efforts to save the building. IL was beyond
their reach and they knew II. Then another
contest with the namea began, 20 save what
they could. About this time, as has been
said, Howell Cobb and James johnson came
mp, who behaved nobly.
what the girls did. not only In their efforts
10 extinguish the flames, but In saving
their own and property OF others,
was Astonishing. Two men and two
young ladies carried out an upright plano.
Large trunks were dragged down st1lrs, ont
through the front entrance and away from the
reach OF the hre. Many were taken . quarter
OF a.miie from the burning: building. On ex-
animation many were found TO contain letters
and papers and very few articles, as In thelI
hurry the girls forgot their clothing hanging
on the walls Of their rooms OF In the wardrobes
Many Iost in.the flames every thing they had
Effort was not relaxed until the corridors wers
nlied with stlnInR smoke. The IRE began sAt
the east portico and burned its way to the west
A wind from the south was blowing quite
gale and famed the danes In their work ofdea.
traction. When they burst through the Gu.
polo, the flames rose hundreds OF feet in tn,
air, and were fesrfully sublime. Not long dit
IL take them H. sAp its foundation and that o.
the entire roof when in the roar OF flames, tn,
whole gave way and went with q crash upoI
the lower noor. With streaming eyes teacher
and.pupils witnessed the destruction Of theii
| grand old alma mAtSe.